Join us as Dedham Youth Soccer kicks off 50 years of community, soccer, and building healthy athletes for life! This free, family-friendly fair celebrates the whole child—body, mind, and spirit—with expert-led panels, hands-on activities, local vendors, and plenty of fun for kids of all ages. Whether your player is lacing up cleats for the first time or dreaming of the next level, there's something here for every DYS family.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
10:00 AM: Doors Open – Explore Vendors & Activities
10:30 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks - Main Stage · Ric "Papi" Gonzalez
11 AM - 1:30 PM: Panel Presentations
1:30 PM: Raffle Drawings – Revs & Legacy Giveaways
2:00 PM: Event Closes – Thank You for Celebrating With Us!
VENDOR VILLAGE
Explore our Vendor Village, where local businesses and organizations dedicated to health, wellness, fitness, and youth development come together in one place. Stop by to discover resources, grab samples, and connect with partners who share DYS's commitment to raising strong, healthy kids.
PANEL PRESENTATIONS (Community Room, timing to be released soon!)
Keeping the Human in Student-Athlete
Learn to distinguish between productive and unproductive stress — and walk away with practical mental skills strategies for parents, athletes, and coaches. Join Kelsey Roberts, MS, mental skills specialist at The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention (Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Sports Medicine) for this engaging, interactive presentation.
Lessons From the Game: A Player’s Journey From Academy to Coaching
Prince Loney, Next Step Training Coach, will share lessons learned from his playing career, the challenges of pursuing the professional game, and how those experiences shaped his approach to coaching today. Players, parents, and coaches are encouraged to ask questions about development, mindset, training habits, and what it really takes to grow in the game. This session will be an open Q&A conversation about the journey through competitive soccer — from playing for the New England Revolution Academy to competing at the NCAA Division I level and now coaching the next generation.
Introduction to DHS Girls & Boys Soccer
Let’s Go Dedham High! Meet girls head coach Don Savi and boys assistant coach Andrew Podolski for a brief overview of the high school programs, plus Q&A. Team captains will also be in attendance.
⚡ FAIR A L L - D A Y A C T I V I T I E S
▸ DYS Gear Swap — Bring cleats & gear to trade!
▸ Soccer Journey Badges — Visit stations to collect badges!
▸ Outdoor Soccer Skills — Challenges with DHS players & Nike
▸ Arts & Crafts — Tattoos, coloring, stickers & face painting
▸ DYS Info Table — Meet the Board & learn about reffing
▸ Food & Refreshments — Snacks, coffee & more
